Larry’s Beans Cold Brew Concentrate – Photo Courtesy of Larry’s Beans
If you have been following my blog for a while you have probably noticed I am a huge fan of the Triangle’s local coffee culture and that in particular I really Larry’s Beans Coffee. So it shouldn’t surprise to anyone that I was pretty excited to learn that Larry’s Beans now sells a cold brew coffee concentrate!
If you are like me and new to drinking cold brew, the first thing you need to know is cold brew is not simply regular brewed coffee that is cooled and served with ice and called an “iced coffee”. Cold Brew is made from a different process. It is created by steeping grounds (from a blend developed specifically for cold-steeping) in cold water for 24 hours, a process that results in an extremely smooth, full-bodied, rich flavor.
Pouring out some Larry’s Beans cold brew concentrate at home!
The Larry’s Beans cold brew blend was created by Larson and chief roaster Brad Brandhorst. “The idea was to create a balance of smooth sweetness and rich complexity that would really sing when steeped for 24 hours. We chose South American beans with full-bodied chocolaty notes, then added African coffees for berry-like highlights.” said Brandhorst.
The 67% lower acid content that makes cold brewed coffee taste so smooth also makes it easier on the stomach, especially for people who are sensitive to coffee. Like all Larry’s Beans coffee, the Cold Brew is 100% Organic, Shade Grown, Fair Trade and roasted in its “green-o-vated” roasting facility in the Five Points area of Raleigh.
My cold brew drink!
I recently had the opportunity to try some of Larry’s cold brew and enjoyed drinking it with a little bit of milk over ice. The cold brew is in concentrate form and the bottle has recommendations that you mix one part cold brew to three parts water. I like my drinks a little on the stronger side so I mixed my cold brew concentrate with just two parts water (plus some milk). The result was a rich smooth chilled coffee drink with none of the bitter aftertaste I often experience with regular iced coffee.
The concentrate can be used to make not only iced coffee, but also hot coffee and cocktails. “It’s kind of like a mega-super-amazing way to make coffee quickly,” said Larry Larson, company CEO. Here are a few fun drink recipes you can use your cold brew to create!
Larry’s Bean’s cold brew can be purchased online in a 3-pack on their website or you can purchase individual bottles at the following local stores where it typically retails for around $11.49 a bottle:
